15 replies to this topic

[mitch]

There seems to be a misconception about the simplicity and cost of putting a/c in a B16A-powered 1G CRX. My '84 CRX 1.3, now with B16A, does have a/c, and no banging was necessary in order to mount the compressor either. The car already had a/c prior to the swap. With the B16A swap, you retain the CRX condensor, evaporator, receiver-drier, sight glass with aluminum lines, and hose from receiver drier to condensor. I'm using the Nippon-Denso (ND) compressor that came with the '90 CRX Si-R swap package that I have. The compressor came with fittings attached to it, and some hose coming off the fittings. It's the same compressor used on the U.S market 2G Integra as well as some Toyotas. The 3G Integra compressor is essentially the same, and substitutable. My compressor deals with R134a just fine, now for 6 years/32K miles. The receiver drier needed to be shifted over a little towards the corner to deal with clearance, but that was very simple. With my front bumper removed from the car, and with my compressor bolted into the bracket and mounted, I drove to a custom hose manufacturer (they're in every large city) in West Palm Beach, and they made measurements from the compressor to the evaporator, and from the compressor to condensor. I removed the compressor (with ND fittings and some hose)on the spot and gave it to them. I also gave them the OEM hoses from the evaporator to the original CRX compressor, and from the condensor to the compressor. The next day my 2 new hoses were ready. The hoses use the CRX fitting on the evaporator and condensor end, and the ND fitting on the compressor end.
The cost was just ~ $40 for the 2 custom-made hoses. Thus this was a very inexpensive project. Nothing complicated either. Even if you don't already have the ND compressor, they're very cheap. Some junkyards are selling them for just ~ $30, and probably not alot more added on to have the mounting bracket with bolts.